As the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, University Ministries is looking for a way to facilitate student reflection, said the minister to the university.A display of remembrance containing pictures, stories and quotes from students and others affected by the attacks will be in the Student Center Lounge on Monday.
The display will provide a place for students to grieve past losses while continuing to look forward, said Angela Kaufman, minister to the university.
“We should remember it, but not remain in it,” she said.
Reflections, prayer and music will also be available all day to members of the TCU community in the Robert Carr Chapel.
A memorial service in the Carr Chapel planned for Monday was canceled after Kaufman spoke with leadership at several Fort Worth churches who suggested keeping focus on the future and the progress that has been made since Sept. 11.
Tom Plumbley, senior minister of First Christian Church in downtown Fort Worth, said fear doesn’t have to paralyze students.
“We have to keep our heads up and keep fear out of our hearts,” he said. “We must be hopeful.”
First Christian Church is opening its doors Monday for those who want to come and take a moment to remember the events of Sept. 11. A brief service will be held at 12:10 p.m., he said, adding that the church’s goal is to establish an optimistic attitude.
“We want to provide a place for people to focus their attention on the events of five years ago and pray about how to go forward from here,” Plumbley said.
Bill Taylor, associate rector at Trinity Episcopal Church, said it is important to maintain a reverence for the people who were killed, while not letting the past permanently damage the country.
“While it’s painful,” Taylor said, “God’s hand is still alive in this.”
Jeremy Brady, a junior biology major, said it is important for people to see that this country is just as vulnerable as any other.
“When everything is going well, you forget the threat is out there,” he said. “They’re there, and they’re real.”
Brady said the attacks were a terrible thing, but said he is trusting God with the future.
“Sept. 11 is a day that I’m going to remember that God is in control,” he said. “We are all vulnerable, but God is going to protect me.”
Jessica Creel, a sophomore nursing major, said students should reflect on what happened five years ago, but agreed that they should move forward with new perspectives.